On November 2nd, the Republican party triumphed in a historic night. Republicans took 63 seats from Democrats in the House and six Senate seats in the Congressional elections.

When the results were evident, leaders of each party addressed the nation. House Speaker-to-be John Boehner was driven to tears during his victory speech. President Obama displayed a glum face throughout his press conference.We have to hope that he won’t bear the same expression after the 2012 presidential elections.

A new Republican-led House of Representatives is waiting in the wings, and Republicans in the new Congress have made their primary intention clear: repealing Obama’s “socialist” health care plan.

The reform bill was dubbed “socialist” because it is government-run. However, Canada and Japan have modeled similar plans, also “socialist” in the fact that they are publicly funded.
The universal government-run health care system adopted by Canada and Japan has proven to be effective and efficient; so why shouldn’t we embrace the similar plan? Obama’s health care bill has transformed our nation into as much of a socialist regime as Canada or Japan.

During the election season, Republican congressmen persistently argued that Obama’s health care reform bill would only add to an already enormous federal deficit. However, Obama said in an interview with CBS News, “I will not sign a bill that adds to the deficit. Period.”

Just as Obama promised, health care reform is expected to lower the federal deficit by $143 billion after the first decade. Perhaps “Obamacare” has entailed a “government takeover” of health care – not unlike what we’ve seen in other rich countries – but it will not add to the growing federal deficit. It will provide medical care for American citizens, and prevent insurance companies from dropping patients in need of medical attention.

If House Republicans are successful and do repeal the bill, our nation will observe another struggle between Democrats and Republicans, while millions of Americans suffer without medical coverage.

While the tax increases meant to fund Obamacare will not add to the federal deficit, former President George W. Bush’s tax breaks for wealthy and middle-class Americans will increase the deficit.  The issue of whether to extend them or not came to end on December 6, as President Obama settled for a compromise rather than fighting for the Democratic agenda.

Obama and Democrats had pushed to extend middle-class tax breaks to jumpstart our economy; however, they were opposed to the prolongation of tax-cuts for the wealthy. But with the new Republican-dominated House of Representatives looming, Democrats and Obama  agreed to extend the tax cuts for all classes for two years.
According to the New York Times, these tax cuts will cost the the federal government $900 billion dollars, a sum that our nation cannot afford.

Doesn’t it seem hypocritical that Republicans wish to repeal Obamacare because it – according to Republicans – will increase the deficit but also pushed forward tax breaks for the upper class, a proven cause of the nation’s deficit?

With their anti-Obama agenda, we are forced to wonder how the Republican victories on November 2nd will affect President Obama’s chances for reelection in 2012. For one, the Republican victories have exposed Americans’ dissatisfaction with Obama and the Democratic party. Recently, President Obama’s approval rating has sunk to 40%.

With the Republican majority in the House, Obama’s agenda will meet a blockade of opposition.  If President Obama is unable to pass future bills, and if he continues to compromise the Democrats agenda, and if the health care reform is repealed, and the recession continues, then we may see a new face in the Oval Office in two years.